PRODUCE MARKETS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22056, 12 March 1935, Page 5

PRODUCE MARKETS

TRADE IN AUCKLAND WEAKENING IN POLLARD AUSTRALIAN PRICE FALLS The collapse of the Australian market for pollard has been the principal development in the grain and produce trade during the past week. The absence of overseas orders has caused the price to fall, and as fairly heavy orders had been placed by Auckland merchants, the position Avill have repercussions locally. The other markets remain firm, and in consequence trade has been quiet. POTATOES The market for good quality potatoes remains steady, but many inferior lines are coming forward and can be disposed of only at reduced rates. A shipment of South Island potatoes arrived during the week, but did not attract much attention. Larger quantities will soon become available from this source, and the future will depend on the yield. In the mcuntime, storekeepers are drawing froin supplies In their own districts as far as possible, and some have intimated that they will bo able to secure sufficient fof the next two months. Current values for good quality range from £ll to £l2 a ton. ONIONS Sufficient spplies of onionß are available, but holders in the South Island aro asking increased rates, especially in view of the good keeping quality, resulting ftom the dry summer. Through store values are about £ll to £ll 10s a ton. FOWL WHEAT The decision of the Wheat Purchase Board to release a quantity of last season's milling wheat has resulted in fairly large quantities of undergrade fowl wheat coming forward. Through store quotations srd around 5s 8d to 5s 9d a bushel, with slightly lower rates being accepted for undergrade lines. MAIZE Maize is firjnly held, with supplies difficult to obtain. Rain has benefited crops in the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne districts, and it is reported that phenomenal growth has resulted. Howrever, new season's will not be ready until about June or July, and future prices will depend on the values of other grains. Prices are about it 8d to 4s 9d a bushel, through Store. BARLEY The Australian market for barley is very firm and the future position appears strong. Local through Btore prices are unaltered at from 8s Ud to 4s for undipped and 4s 3d to 4s 4d a bushel for clipped. OATS AND CHAFF The oats and chaff position is strong, although increased feed supplies have eased the demand. Merchants are not perturbed, as should cold weather set in early, a good demand is anticipated. Old season's chaff is worth £7 10s to £7 15s a ton. through Btore, while new season's iB quoted at about 10s a ton less. Oats are firm. A grade Gartons being worth about 3s 9d a bushel and D grade Gartons about 3s Cd, through store. BRAN AND POLLARD Owing to the absence of overseas orders the Australian market, for pollard has weakened and the price has fallen. This will affect the position in the Dominion, as when the price of local pollard wis raised on account of the shortage caused by dry weather, merchants covered fairly heavily from Australia. It is quite evident that some Bellers are now prepared to meet the market by quitting imported pollard at cost, and although this is usually quoted at a premium, it is selling at reduced rates. Supplies of local pollard are improving, and it seems likely that the price will be reduced shortly. Through store Australian pollard is being offered at from £6 10s to £7 a ton, while local is quoted at from £7 to £7 5s a ton. Bran is unchanged at £6 a ton on the same basis. , POSITION AT PUKEKOHE [from our own* correspondent] PUKEKOHE, Monday All locally-grown onions are now being held in store, a small tonnage being available at 9s 6d per cwt., f.o.r. Pukekolie. Pickling onions sell at os 6d per cwt. A very few local table potatoes are offering at 7s 6d cwt. Pumpkins, the only other vegetable available from the district, sell at 8s per.cwt. Fears that no seed potatoes would be available for early crops have been abated by a large quantity of suitable seed unexpectedly coming on to the market. This was quickly sold at high values, and although the tonnage of early potatoes available from Pukekohe may riot be as great next season as formerly it is now expected that supplies will be available at the usual time. BUTTER IN LONDON MARKET REPORTED FIRM The London butter market is reported to be firm, with New Zealand finest selling at 76s per cwt., according to a cablegram received yesterday by Joseph Nathan and Company, Limited, from Trengrouse and Nathan, Limited. Cheese also is stated to be firm, white being quoted at 45s to 45s 6d per cwt. and coloured at 465.